The BMW 5 Serices’s opponent has a mild hybrid drivetrain to make it even more refined.
Austria, Vienna
Although the W213, the current model of the E-Class, has been on the market since 2016, it doesn’t feel that old. Maybe this is the case because 2020’s thorough redesign still seems current and stylish. Or perhaps it’s just that the huge E, which sits between the C and the S but rarely receives as much attention as either, is so easily forgotten.
The W214, the 2024 E-Class,
which will arrive in American dealerships somewhere in the first half of next year, is receiving everything Mercedes has to offer in an effort to get you to pay attention this time. The E-Class is more appealing than ever thanks to a new platform, a modern appearance, tons of cutting-edge technology, and a boatload more trunk space.
Quick Stats 2024 Mercedes-Benz E450
Engine Turbocharged 3.0-Liter I6 Mild-Hybrid
Output 375 Horsepower / 369 Pound-Feet
0-60 MPH TBD
Top Speed 130 MPH (electronically limited)
On-Sale Date Early 2024
An Expanded Footprint
Let’s start with that new platform, around half an inch longer than before, half an inch taller, and 0.3 inches wider. However, the wheelbase lengthens more noticeably—by 0.87 inches—and the rear passenger area gains the most of that extra room. Although there isn’t exactly an abundance of legroom in the back seats, there is at least a generous amount of headroom.
But the area of the trunk that has changed the most is truly there. For comparison’s sake, the outgoing E-Class has a pitiful 13.1 cubic feet of trunk capacity, which is less than the previous Toyota Yaris sedan. That increases to 19.0 cubic feet for the E-Class in 2024. That’s the distinction between instructing your kids to bring only what they need for a weekend getaway and deciding to bring every board game you own for your week-long stay at the cabin.
Even in the case of the hybrid version of the vehicle, the trunk area is unaffected. This is due to the fact that every E-Class model, whether you choose the 255 horsepower, 295 pound-foot inline four-cylinder E350 4Matic or the 375 horsepower, 369 pound-foot E450 4Matic, is a hybrid. For those keeping track, the new E450’s inline-six has 13 more horsepower and 7 more lb-ft of torque.
A Drive
Even if I am unable to provide efficiency numbers, I can at least describe how that system functions. If anything, it moves a little too quickly. Before I could control the throttle, which is rather snatchy even in Comfort mode, I had to practice pulling away from stop lights
In Individual mode, you may adjust the steering weight, the aggressiveness of the nine-speed automated transmission, and the stiffness of the air suspension—assuming you checked that box, that is.
Since neither vehicle is a plug-in and Mercedes-Benz hasn’t released any efficiency estimates just yet, expect something similar to the 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway ratings of the 2023 E450 4Matic’s 48-volt mild hybrid system.
The Technical Pack
The technology we’ve seen on the company’s EQ-branded EVs is now available on something with internal combustion, and Mercedes-Benz calls it Progressive Sport Sound.
You can suddenly transform that expertly tuned inline-six into something with much greater displacement by enabling a false engine noise in MBUX with a few simple touches. The engine screams through the speakers when you speed, the seat thumps with a fake aggressive timing at idle, and you even hear some phony pops when you decelerate.
Even though I recognize how ridiculous everything is, I also have to concede that, amazingly, it sort of works. Actually, it does provide the same itch-scratching experience as a precisely tuned sport exhaust. The best thing, though? It is simply audible.
FAQs
What Will The Price Of The Mercedes E-Class Be In 2024?
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class’s official price has not yet been announced, although it will definitely be more expensive than the 2023 model due to the upgraded powertrains and extra technologies. The base price of the departing E-Class is $56,750.